The three-hour seminar was delivered by Dr John Anner of Lotus Impact Investment, an impact investment company based in Vietnam. Lotus invests incubation services and impact capital into high potential businesses to generate lasting social impact and transformative growth. Whilst its work and focus has been primarily in South East Asia, it is exploring opportunities in Fiji and the Pacific.

Lotus is one of the few impact investing funds worldwide with the determination, commitment and leadership to developing the field of gender lens investing. Dr Anner led the participants through an introduction to impact investment and social entrepreneurship, and also introduce gender lens investing. He brings with him years of expertise and experience, having worked in the non-profit sector for over 30 years and has focused on the use of impact measurement as a critical factor for social enterprise.

PIPSO supporting this training session in recognition that access to finance for SMEs in Fiji and the Pacific is difficult and businesses are always trying to find innovative ways to secure resources. Impact financing is about investing in social change to effect and further business endeavours. One way to address this is through gender lens investing – the practice of investing for financial return while also considering the benefits to women, including funding women-owned businesses, businesses with a strong track record of employing women, or companies that improve the lives of women and girls with their products and services.

PIPSO Acting CEO Alisi Tuqa, said, “PIPSO acknowledges the Pacific Rise project where this work and interest on impact investment and gender lens financing has really encouraged PIPSO to explore opportunities within the business community on how to access, and consider pooling of resources to support SMEs in their pursuit to grow.”

Managing Director of Lotus Impact, Mr James Dien Bui said “The field of impact investing is expanding, perhaps faster than ever, as investors and ecosystem builders are working together to identify opportunities for systematic, scalable solutions. To this end, it’s critically important to authenticate the ‘impact value proposition’ in every single assessment to investment. That’s precisely why Lotus is thrilled to work with PIPSO and Pacific Rise, and look forward to the work in Fiji in the months ahead.”